WNBA Finals 2025: Ranking the top 15 players

The checklist is a bit shorter. The stakes are rather a lot larger.

ESPN has ranked the highest 25 gamers within the WNBA all through this season. Now that we have reached the WNBA Finals, the checklist shrinks to one of the best 15 gamers on the court docket because the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury meet within the league’s first seven-game championship sequence to find out the 2025 champion. Sport 1 is Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Las Vegas.

Aces heart A’ja Wilson, who received her report fourth regular-season MVP award final month, stays on the high, simply as she was in our rankings heading into the playoffs. Wilson goes for her third league championship and second WNBA Finals MVP award.

Phoenix ahead Alyssa Thomas, who additionally was an MVP candidate this season, is No. 2 on our checklist. She hopes to steer the Mercury to the franchise’s fourth title, which might be her first.

Listed below are our high 15 gamers, WNBA Finals version.

Heart | 6-foot-4
Playoff stats: 26.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.8 BPG

Wilson has been on a tremendous run for the reason that Aces turned their season round, beginning Aug. 3. Nearly as good as she was within the later a part of the common season, she has been simply as sharp — or higher — within the playoffs. Wilson has scored 25 or extra factors in 5 of the Aces’ eight playoff video games and has been a pillar on protection. She averaged 1.6 steals in the course of the common season, however that is as much as 2.6 within the postseason. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-2
Playoff stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 9.1 APG

The at all times aggressive Thomas has regarded to assault the basket much more in the course of the Mercury’s postseason run and her scoring has elevated by 3.2 PPG within the playoffs, all whereas her league-leading assists numbers have stayed the identical. Almost all the pieces Phoenix does on offense runs via Thomas, some extent guard and energy ahead rolled into one. Her seven triple-doubles set a single-season WNBA report and the 19 in her profession can also be tops in league historical past, together with one within the opening-round sequence clincher in opposition to New York. — Creme

Guard | 6-foot
Playoff stats: 20.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.3 APG

What Wilson means to the Aces’ submit play, Younger means to their guard play. Her consistency has been a significant asset for Las Vegas since she was drafted No. 1 in 2019. However Younger additionally has turned it up for the postseason: She is averaging 4.0 extra factors within the playoffs, and her rebounding and assists numbers are additionally up. And he or she takes the hardest defensive project on the perimeter. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
Playoffs stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 34.0% 3FG

Thomas is the Mercury’s greatest and most constant participant. Sabally is their difference-maker. When Sabally is at her greatest, she will string collectively performs that few gamers can. She will be able to spark a run all by herself together with her quick-release, deep taking pictures skills, coupled together with her skill to run the ground and get to the rim. That stated, Sabally can even disappear for stretches. She has had a nine-point and 10-point sport in these playoffs. Phoenix misplaced each video games. Within the Mercury’s 5 wins, Sabally has averaged 21.2 factors. — Creme

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Guard | 5-foot-11
Playoff stats: 10.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 7.3 APG

Grey will probably be 33 on Wednesday, the date of Sport 3 of the WNBA Finals. In her eleventh WNBA season, Grey remains to be one of many WNBA’s greatest level guards and clutch shooters. We noticed that within the Aces’ semifinal Sport 5 victory over Indiana during which Grey had 17 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures and 6 assists. Late-game administration was an issue for Minnesota in its semifinal sequence loss to Phoenix, however Grey is masterful at that for Las Vegas. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
Playoff stats: 7.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG

The Mercury and Bonner may need saved one another. The 38-year-old’s profession regarded prefer it was sputtering to an finish after a disappointing begin to her first season with Indiana. The Fever launched her after 9 video games, and he or she joined Phoenix the place she instantly had a extra outlined position. As soon as a star, Bonner excepted her role-player standing, and her big-game expertise and size on protection have been property to the Mercury’s Finals run. She has made simply 5 of 20 3-pointers within the playoffs, however 4 helped gas the comeback of the series-clincher in opposition to Minnesota within the semifinals. — Creme

Guard | 6-foot-1
Playoff stats: 15.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.0 APG

Accidents restricted Copper to twenty-eight of the Mercury’s 44 regular-season video games. However she has been wholesome and efficient all through the playoffs. She had 21 factors on 9-of-13 taking pictures in what was in all probability her greatest total efficiency of the playoffs, which was additionally the Mercury’s pivotal Sport 3 victory of their semifinal sequence with Minnesota. — Voepel

Guard | 5-foot-11
Playoff stats: 5.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.6 APG

A five-year veteran {of professional} basketball in France, Akoa Makani joined the Mercury after signing a coaching camp contract and has been a significant contributor all through her rookie season. She does most of her harm from 3-point vary and was Phoenix’s most correct deep shooter in the course of the common season (39.8%). The playoffs have not been as sort, the place Akoa Makani has made 5 of 18 3-point makes an attempt and her total manufacturing has dropped. Nate Tibbetts has remained assured in her, although, and Akoa Makani has performed at the least 19 minutes in all seven Mercury playoff video games. — Creme

Guard | 5-foot-10
Playoff stats: 8.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.1 APG

At age 37, Whitcomb remains to be one of many league’s reliable sharpshooters, particularly in high-pressure conditions. Her tying 3-pointer close to the top of regulation in Sport 2 of the semifinals in opposition to Minnesota was an instance. She did not lose confidence after lacking her first attempt on that vital possession. It gave the Mercury an opportunity to win the sport in extra time and steal a contest on Minnesota’s residence court docket, altering the course of the sequence. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
Playoff stats: 8.9 PPG, 4.86 RPG, 62.0% FG

Smith is Las Vegas’s model of Bonner. A change of surroundings rejuvenated her profession, and her arrival from Dallas was a key to the Aces’ rebirth in August. Smith’s presence as a rebounder and low-point risk permits Wilson to play extra freely. With a confidence that has reached a brand new stage within the playoffs, Smith’s scoring and taking pictures accuracy are each up from the common season. — Creme

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Guard | 5-foot-11
Playoff stats: 7.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG

Loyd hasn’t been the scoring whiz in Las Vegas that she was in her decade with Seattle, however that is not a good evaluation of what the Aces wanted from her. They required an enormous guard who might match into the system at each ends of the court docket, and Loyd has accomplished that. Because it turned out, she has been simpler coming off the bench, a job she has embraced. However within the Finals, the Aces may search for a bit extra offense from her. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4
Playoff stats: 3.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.7 BPG

Mack earns her taking part in time as a defender and a rebounder. She has tried simply 20 pictures within the playoffs however was second within the league in blocks and offensive rebounds per 40 minutes in the course of the common season. As Phoenix appears to be like for various methods to decelerate Wilson, Mack — together with her size and mobility — might play an necessary position within the sequence. — Creme

Guard | 5-foot-6
Playoff stats: 7.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 3.0 APG

She has been a superb addition to the Las Vegas bench this season after spending the previous 4 years in Chicago. Evans scored in double figures in 4 of Las Vegas’ eight playoff video games. Her quickness and defensive tenacity might make her one of many X components amongst reserve gamers on this sequence. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-3
Playoff stats: 4.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 53.3% 3FG

A 29-year-old rookie, Westbeld made her WNBA debut on Could 17 and went on to play a team-leading 43 video games (tied with Whitcomb). She is the quintessential pick-and-pop energy ahead who additionally gained minutes due to her protection. Westbeld took 60.9% of her pictures from 3-point vary within the common season. Her minutes have been reduce within the playoffs (18.4 to 11.9), however she has made 8 of 15 from behind the arc. — Creme

Heart | 6-foot-4
Playoff stats: 3.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.3 APG

The Mercury will probably be as bodily as they’re allowed to be, which is why it is useful to Las Vegas to have one other heart together with Wilson who just isn’t going to again down. Gustafson has appeared in six of the Aces’ eight playoff video games, averaging 10.0 minutes. She performed almost 18 minutes, with 5 factors and three assists, within the semifinal Sport 5 win over Indiana. — Voepel

Kevin Pelton contributed to this report.